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Who’s in charge of the US?

Russia is not flavour of the month, if we’re to believe all we hear about its involvement in the Ukraine. In one area of life, however, this country is taking a lead.

No to GMO

Russia has made a stand against the importation of GMO food and seed. Even though the country admits genetically modified seed has already entered the country, the government has passed a ban on any further imports of GM products.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

It has been widely reported that the country’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said, Russia will not import GMO products, adding that the nation has enough space and resources to produce organic food.

Monsanto weighs in against organic farmers

In the US, however, farmers who might want to produce pure organic food cannot guarantee their right to do so. According to a Reuters report by Darren Hauck:

“The high court left intact Monday a federal appeals court decision that threw out a 2011 lawsuit from the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association and over 80 other plaintiffs against Monsanto that sought to challenge the agrochemical company’s aggressive claims on patents of genetically-modified seeds. The suit also aimed to curb Monsanto from suing anyone whose field is contaminated by such seeds. “

The innocent bee could carry GE pollen
that contaminates an organic crop

Yes, you read that correctly: Independent farmers whose crops might be contaminated by GM pollen could be sued by Monsanto.

Why was this sanctioned by the US Federal Court?

Because Monsanto wants to protect its rights to any of the GMO seeds it produces, totally.

Americans have in the past championed commercial rights vigorously. If a company has patented a process, people infringing that process should be punished, the public reasoned. But hang on: if the organic farmers have their crops contaminated, won’t that totally compromise their right to be recognised as organic producers? It certainly will. Yet the Courts have sided with the giant corporation.

Mass production opened up an opportunity for GMO

Monsanto claims on its website that: “Monsanto is a sustainable agriculture company. We deliver agricultural products that support farmers all around the world.

“We are focused on empowering farmers—large and small—to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. We do this with our leading seed brands in crops like corn, cotton, oilseeds and fruits and vegetables.”

What they don’t tell you is that the seed they sell poor farmers cannot be grown and saved for next season’s crops. Consequently costs for farmers, who must buy new seed (from Monsanto) each year, start to skyrocket.

Could the US say NO to Monsanto and GMO?

Could the Senate take on Monsanto and stop the madness? Hardly likely. The company has just convinced the US Court to make a landmark decision that allows the business giant able to sue an individual who inadvertently has his/her crops contaminated by GMO pollen. That hardly seems logical or fair.

The US Government wouldn’t stand a chance.

Protests are growing

May 24th has been declared a protest day against what Monsanto is doing. The protests re world-wide. In New Zealand the following Marches have been organised: